Glen Ellyn Teacher Being Investigated After Anti-LGBTQ Backlash

Glen Ellyn IL

13 September, 2021

2:39 PM

Description

GLEN ELLYN, IL — A teacher is under investigation by Glen Ellyn School District 41 after drawing criticism on Twitter for TikTok videos she shared about teaching content related to LGBTQ history and racial justice, district officials confirmed. The videos, which were reposted to Twitter in early September by an anonymous account called "Libs of TikTok," show the teacher speaking about LGBTQ books and Pride month lesson plans and cautioning viewers against discrimination and white privilege. According to NBC 5, the educator teaches third grade at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School. Her pride month curriculum for 3rd grade pic.twitter.com/pQcpTZs6hm— Libs of Tik Tok (@libsoftiktok) September 2, 2021 The videos led to an influx of phone calls, according to a Sept. 2 email sent to staff and parents by District 41 Superintendent Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski. Kaczkowski sent a followup email the next day sharing the school district's values about integrity, equality and learning. "I ask and hope that the community assumes positive intent in the work being done by the staff and administration in this district," Kaczkowski wrote. "We are stronger when we come together to support these efforts." Citing the ongoing investigation, a spokesperson for District 41 told Patch no further information would be released as of Monday. It's not clear what the investigation entails or whether school officials object to any of the content the teacher posted. As of 2020, Illinois law requires LGBTQ history to be taught in all public schools. On Sept. 2, Patch reached out to the teacher who appears to run the TikTok account, but did not receive a response.